An Archeological Survey of the Houston Lake Widening Project Houston County, Georgia

Between August 1996 and July 1997, Southeastern Archeological Services (SAS) conducted an intensive archeological survey of the proposed widening of Houston Lake Road from a point 3.2 km (1.9 mi) south of its intersection with State Route (SR) 247c (Watson Boulevard in Warner Robins), through its merging with SR 127, and terminating at the Mossy Creek bridge in Houston County. The majority of the project will involve the conversion of the existing two-lane highway into four paired lanes separated by a grassed median. According to the project maps, a 5-6 m (15-20 ft) strip on each side of the current right-of-way will be affected. In addition, new location is required for two segments of the road in order to avoid residential areas. Here, the proposed new right-of-way is about 31 m (100 ft) wide. Seven intersection improvements are also involved. The survey recorded nine archeological sites: three are cemeteries, four are historic artifact scatters, one has both historic artifacts and prehistoric lithics, and one is a prehistoric lithic scatter (Table 1). None of the sites are recommended eligible to the National Register of Historic Places. The Lamar Cemetery (9HT119) is located at the intersection of Feagin Road and Houston Lake Road. The closest graves are within five meters of the proposed new right-of-way. The second graveyard, known as the Smith Cemetery (9HT118), is approximately 75 meters east of the proposed right-of-way. Neither are within the proposed project's area of potential effect. Site 9HT137, the Tharpe Cemetery, is located on Sanderfur Road. Sanderfur Road will be realigned in order to improve its intersection with Houston Lake Road and the cemetery is situated at the terminus of the realignment. Historic research indicates that there may be unmarked graves within the present right-of-way. Therefore, no ground disturbing activities should be conducted on the north side of Sanderfur Road at this location. Table 1. Management Summary Table. State Site Type Eligibility Recommendation Site No. 9HT112 Historic Artifact Scatter Portion of site within proposed right-of-way Prehistoric Lithic Scatter is ineligible. Eligibility of rest of site is unknown. 9HT113 Prehistoric Lithic Scatter Ineligible 9HT114 Historic Artifact Scatter Ineligible 9HT115 Historic Artifact Scatter Ineligible 9HT116 Historic Artifact Scatter Ineligible 9HT117 Historic Artifact Scatter Ineligible 9HT118 Smith Cemetery Ineligible 9HT119 Lamar Cemetery Ineligible 9HT137 Tharpe Cemetery Ineligible.